Kolkata: The apex court of justice in India-the Supreme Court sanctioned the release of funds to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the remainder of the India-England series.
The court has allowed the BCCI to use ₹ 1.33 crore for the two remaining test matches (in Mumbai and Chennai)and ₹ 25 lakhs for each of the limited over games (three ODIs and three T20s). This has more or less expected to happen as the board has made similar concessions in the past, but nonetheless, it would come as a huge relief to the BCCI.
The court has also ordered the BCCI to maintain a record of the expenditure occurred during the series which in turn,has to be submitted to the Lodha Committee. An auditor who is appointed by the committee will verify the record of the expenditure.
Also, while allowing the release of funds to the BCCI, the court made it clear that the money needs to be directly given to the vendors for the services they provide during the various matches. Also, the board has to ensure that no part of the revenue should flow to the state associations which would host the matches.
After receiving recommendations from the Lodha committee, the Supreme Court had frozen the funds before the home series against New Zealand.Following this,the BCCI had publicly threatened to cancel the matches if they were not provided with the appropriate funds.However, in the end, the issue of, “national pride” came to the board’s rescue and the court ordered the release of funds, while providing guidelines as to how to use the same.
The BCCI however,continues to be on life-support till December 9,Friday when the Supreme Court hearing would take place regarding the Lodha Committee’s plea to appoint former home secretary Mr.G K Pillai as an observer of the parent body of cricket in India.
The Lodha Committee was initially appointed on the 22nd of January, 2015 comprising of former Chief Justice of India Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha,Justice Ashok Bhan and former Justice R. Raveendran to decide and determine the penalty and punishments for two IPL teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and there owners for betting and spot-fixing.
As of now, the two teams have been banned from competing in India’s cash rich cricket league.The committee also would suggest reforms for the refinement and better functioning of the BCCI. December 9th, however, could prove to be a make-or-break day for the BCCI.